How to Add a Festive Touch to Your Home Bar for the Holidays
The holiday season is the perfect time to entertain guests at your home. But before the festivities begin, it is essential to declutter your house and dress it up for the occasion. While the living room is the focal point for any gathering, it is also equally important to pay close attention to the oft-ignored home bar to create the ambience one wants for their soiree.
If you want guidance regarding decorating this corner of the house, here are some tried and tested ways to amp up and transform your home bar.
Zero In On A Festive Theme
The first step in creating a cohesive atmosphere is to find and stick to a specific theme.
Deep reds with gold accents or forest green with accents of dried branches are ideal for someone looking for a rich colour palette.
Whites, silvers and cool blues, on the other hand, evoke a frosty, wintery feel, which makes this colour scheme ideal for winter wonderland parties.
Materials like twine, burlap, wood, pine cones evoke a sense of earthiness. You can decorate with pine cones, candles and muted tones for a rustic and cosy interior.
Glam is never out of style, so opt for a contrast of deep, velvety purples with sleek metallics like rose gold and silver for a contemporary glam aesthetic.
Seasonal Lighting
Use the reflective surfaces of glass bar shelves and glassware to your advantage by draping fairy lights with soft, warm lighting around the shelves, glassware and bottles.
Place lanterns and candles on the bar countertop and the tables nearby. You may even use scented candles and diffusers with aromas of pine, cinnamon, pumpkin spice and spiced vanilla to reinforce the holiday ambience.
If you have a slightly higher budget, opt for statement lighting like battery-operated mini chandeliers or pendant lights with metallic or crystal fixtures as the overhead lighting for your home bar.
Festive Decor
Opt for faux evergreen garlands to drape around the countertop and the shelves. Add sprigs of eucalyptus and mistletoe to make the decoration even more traditional.
Glass and metallic holiday ornaments can be hung from the shelves or placed in crystal bowls.
If your budget permits, swap out the everyday bar accessories with holiday-themed cocktail napkins, gold-rimmed glassware and coasters with snowflake designs.
Seasonal Ingredients And Spirits
Go for classic holiday drinks like hot chocolate or eggnog to ring in the festivities. For parties with only adult attendees, you can serve spiked hot chocolate, mulled wine, or festival cocktails that correspond to the theme of your party, like a cranberry rosemary spritz or a peppermint martini cocktail.
Stock up on garnishes like fresh or dried cranberries, cinnamon sticks and sprigs of fresh rosemary to not only celebrate the holiday spirit with familiar winter flavours, but also provide visual cues.
Similarly, mixers and syrups with flavours of gingerbread, spiced apple and cranberry can be used for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
Holiday-Inspired Backdrop:
Incorporate elements like framed holiday art, neon sign boards or chalkboards in your decor.
Consider hanging mirrors to reflect light and make the space appear bigger and more well-lit. Metallic accents like gold and silver serving dishes, trays, vases and velvet cushioned bar stools with metallic legs are all items that will enhance the magical incandescence of your space.
